Educational device



March '9, 1965 R. P. RAGEN EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 31, 196,2

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 El a9 E? 4o E3 4/ INVENTOR ROBERT P. RAGEN jVndrus I Starlge ATfoR/vsvs March 9, 1965 R. P. RAGEN EDUCATIONAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1962 lll 0N OFF INVENTOR. ROBERT P. RAGEN jVndruS f Stark? AT-fo RNE vs United States Patent O V3,172,215 EDUCATIONAL DEVCE Robert P. Ragen, 2527 N. Oakland, Milwaukee l1, Wis. Filed Aug. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 220,632 Claims. (Cl. 35-35) This invention relates to an educational device land more particularly to an apparatus for aiding in teaching of spelling and pronunciation of words.

The` present invention is directed to a pictorial educational apparatus to be used in schools for assisting in the spelling and pronunciation of words by visually presenting both the entire word and the individual syllables to the student.

More specifically, the apparatus of the invention includes a casing having a series of windows and the letters which comprise the word are inserted behind the windows and are adapted to be lighted in rpredetermined sequence to present the entire word and the individual syllables. Avseries of rows of switches are mounted on the casing with t-he switches of each row corresponding in number to the windows in the casing. The irst row of switches corresponds to the letters of the first syllable, the second row of switches corresponds to the letters of the second syllable, etc. Depending on the particular Word to be studied, the switches in the iirst row correspondingto the number of letters in the iirst syllable are manuallyv closed, and similarly the switches in the second row corresponding to the number of letters in the second syllable are also closed. This. is done for each syllable in the word. For example, if there are three letters in the first syllable, twoletters in the second syllable and two letters in the third syllable, the first three switches in Vthe iirst row would be closed, the fourth and lifth switches in the second row would be closed, and the sixth and seventh switches in the third row would be closed.

The syllables and word are illuminated in a predetermined sequence by a series of motor driven cams. In normal operation, the entire word is first lighted so that the student can see the word in its entirety. Subsequently, in automatic sequence, each syllable ofthe word is lighted and after each individual syllable has been lighted, the entire word again is presented.

in a modied form of the invention, the rows of switches are replaced by la series `of rotary switches with one rotary switch being employed for each syllable. ln this structure, the rst rotary switch is set for the number of letters in the first syllable, the second rotary switch` is set for the number ofletters in the secondsyllable, etc. To study the wo-rd with this device, a rst pushbutton switch is closed which illuminates the entire word. Subsequently, a second push-button switch is closed which illuminates the letters of the iirst syllable, and similarly each subsequent syllable can be illuminated.

Provision can be made to insert colored -slidesbehind the letters so that emphasis can be` given to ditiicult syllables 0r silent letters -to aid in the study of the words.

The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive device for studying spelling and pronunciation of words; The entire word and then each individual syllable are automatically `and sequentially visually presented to the student and this serves to impress the partcula syllables as well as the entire word upon-the students memory with the result that he can grasp the spelling and pronunciation muchv more easily.

Other objects and `advantages will 'appear inthe course of the following description.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently con-V templated of carrying out the inven-tion.

3,172,215 Patented Mar.9, 1955` FPice In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a plan View of one of the slides bearing a letter of the alphabet which is used with the pictorial educational `apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of'aninsert to `be attached to theY slide;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the insert shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan View with parts broken away of the Y apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FlG. 6 is a transverse section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is Ia wiring Vdiagram showing the circuitry of the device shown in FlGS. 4-6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a clamping arrangement for the slides;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a modified 4form of the iu- Vention using rotary switches; 9 FlG. l0 is a Section taken along line lil-1t) of FIG.` ;and

FlG. 1l is a wiring diagram showing the circuitry 0f the apparatus shown Ain FIGS. 9 and lO.

The drawings illustrate an educational apparatus which comprises a casing l which is supported 0n legs 2. The casing l includes a bottom wall 3, a pair of side walls 4 and a pair of end walls 5 which are .joined together to4 form the lgenerally rectangular box-like casing. The upplegend Vof the casinglllis partially enclosed by a top wa The casing l is divided into storage and lighting compartments by a central wall 7 which extends the length of the box. In addition to wall 7, :a longitudinal partition 8 and a series of cross partitions 9 divide the rear" portion or" the casing into a series of small storage compartments which hold slides It.' The storage comparrnents are adapted to be closed by a cover l1 which is hinged to the rear Wall 5.

The slides'lt, which are stored within the storage compartments, are adapted to be lifted upwardly `for easy. removal by a lifting frame 12 which is hinged at 13 to` the casing 1. The frame 12 comprises a servies of longitudinal elements 14 which are connected together by. cross members l5. As best shown in FIG. 6, the partition is provided with a series of slots 16which receive Y the elements 14 landV enable the lifting frame to be pivoted upwardly.V The slides itl rest on the cross members 15I of the lifting frame, and 'the frame 12 is adapted to bev pivoted upwardly by handle 17 which extends outwardly through a slot 18 in the rear end Wall S. By pivoting the frame l2 upwardly, the slides 10 -are moved aboveV Y Either the letter or thebackground is transparenter' translucent and the other portion is opaque so that when: the slide is illuminated, Ithe letter will stand out against the background.

A provision is also made for attaching sound symbols to the slide 10. This is accomplished by-the inserts 19? which contain the sound symbols. The inserts 19` are provided with dowels 2t).V which can be inserted within` suitable openings 21 Vin the slides 10.

The slides 1li containing the letters are adapted to be inserted behind a series of windows 22a-h formed'in the iront end wall 5 of the' box 1. A lighting compartment 23 is provided behind each of the windows 22alh, and" each compartment 23 is defined by wall 24, whichl extends' parallel to front end wall'S, and wallsZS which connect? the front wall 5 to the wall 24. The slides 19 are adapted E to be iluminated by a bulb 26 which is attached within socket 27 secured to the wall 24 in each compartment.

The top wall 6 of the casing 1 is provided with two rows of slots 28 and 29 which are in alignment with the windows 22a-22h. The slides 10 containing the letters are adapted to be inserted within the slots 28 and a series of colored slides, not shown, can be inserted within the slots 29, if desired, and serve to provide color for particular letters in the event that a certain syllable is to be emphasized or is hard to pronounce if a silent letter is present in the word.

To illuminate the slides contained within the windows 22a-22h, a series of rows of switches are mounted on the upper wall 6 with the switches in each row corresponding in number to the windows 22a-22h. As best shown in FIG. 5, a first row of switches SIB-37 is mounted immediately behind the windows 22a-22h and the first row of switches is followed by a second row of switches 38-45, a third row of switches 46-53 and a fourth row of switches 54-61. Each row of switches corresponds to a syllable and the apparatus as shown is adapted to present a maximum of four syllables. If the device is to be -used for a greater number of syllables, the number of rows of switches would be increased to correspond to the maximum number of syllables to be presented.

Referring to FIG. 7, which is the wiring diagram, power lines 62 and 63 are connected to a suitable source of power and 'an on-of switch 64 is connected in line 63. A motor 65 is connected to the power lines by lines 66 and 67 and the motor is operably connected to and drives a series of cams 68, 69, 70 and 71. The nurnber of cams corresponds to the number of syllables and for a four-syllable machine, four cams would be employed, as shown in FIG. 7.

Cams 68-71 are rotated by operation of the motor 65 and the cams are adapted to actuate and periodically close cam switches 72, 73, 74 and 75, respectively, during cyclic rotation of the cams. Cam switch 72 is connected in line 76 which connects the power line 62 with the switches -37 of the rst row. Similarly, the switch 73 is connected in line '77 which connects the power line 62 to the switches 38-45 of the second row, and cam switch 74 is located in line 78 which connects the power iine 62 to the switches 46-53 of the third row. Cam switch 75 is connected in line 79 which connects the power line 62 to the switches 54-61 of the fourth row. Lines 80 connect the switches located in alignment with each window with the corresponding bulb 26.

In operation of the apparatus, the student selects the slides 10 containing the letters of the word which is to be studied and inserts the slides in slots 28. As an example, FIG. 4 shows the letters of the word ACQUIRE located in the windows 22ag of the casing. An insert 19 is positioned above the letter A in the first window 22 having the sound symbol indicating that it is a short A.

As the word ACQUIRE is formed of two syllables, AC and QUIRE, switches 30 and 31 of the iirst row would be closed indicating there are two letters in the first syllable and switches -44 of the second row would be closed indicating that there are ve letters in the second syllable. As the word does not contain a third and fourth syllable, no switches in the third or fourth row would be closed. The on-oi'f switch 64 is then closed to start the motor 65 and rotate the cams. The cams are arranged with contours so that upon initial'rotation, all four of the switches 72-75 will be closed, which results in the current passing through lines 76 and 77 to light up the windows 22m-g which results in all of the letters of the word ACQUIRE being illuminated.

Following this, subsequent rotation of the cams will release or open switches 73, 74 and 75, while switch 72 will remain closed. Current will then ilow only through line 76 to illuminate bulbs 26 located behind the windows 22a and 2lb, which is the rst syllable AC of the word.

As the cams rotate, the switch 72 will be open and the switch 73 will be closed, which results in current ilowing to line 77 and through closed switches 40-44 to energize the bulbs 26 in windows 22e-22g and thereby illuminate the syllable QUIRE.

Subsequent rotation of the cams will open switch 73 and close switch 74 and then switch 75. As none of the switches in the third or fourth row are Closed, the

5 closing of switches 74 and 75 will not illuminate any slides in the windows. At the end of the cam rotation cycle, all of the cam switches 72-75 will again be closed with the result that all of the letters in the word appearing in windows 22a-g are again illuminated.

The system aids in learning the spelling or pronunciation of words, for it initially illuminates the entire word so that the student can obtain an idea of the over-all spelling and appearance of the word. Subsequently, each individual syllable is separately illuminated so that the student again can see the spelling and appearance of each individual syllable. Following the illumination of the individual syllables, the entire word is again illuminated which provides the student with a nal pictorial representation of the entire word.

FIG. 8 shows a modified form of the invention in which the slides 10 containing the letters are clamped between bars 81 by spring clamping members 82. The slides containing the desired letters forming the word to be studied are inserted between the bars with the side edges in engagement and clamped therein by the clamps 82. This arrangement enables the words to be studied to be pre-assembled before the class period and saves the time of assembly during the plass period.

In this embodiment the casing 83 includes a bottom wall 84, a pair of end walls 85 and a pair of side walls 86 which are connected to the end walls and bottom walls to provide a generally rectangular casing. In addition, a top wall 87 extends partially over the open top of the casing 83.

The casing 83 is divided into a storage compartment and a lighting compartment by a longitudinal partition wall 8. In addition, the storage compartment is divided into a series of small storage chambers by a longitudinal partition 89 and a series of cross partitions 90.

As in the case of the rst embodiment, the front end wall 85 is provided with a series of windows 91 and the slides 10, carried by the clamping bars 81, are inserted within a continuous slot 92 formed in the top wall 87 so that the slides 10 are visible through the windows 91. The letters on the slides 10 are illuminated by a series of light bulbs 93 which are secured within wall 94 which extends longitudinally of the box. are connected between the wall 94 and the front wall 8S to provide a series of individual lighting compartments behind e-ach window. In `addition to the bulb 93, a second bulb 96, which is colored red, yellow or the like, is also secured to the wall 94 in each lighting compartment. Bulbs 93 and 96 can be selectively lighted to thereby illuminate each individual letter with either white or colored light. As in the case of the first embodiment, if it is desired to emphasize one particular syllable, or emphasize a silent letter or the like, this syllable or letter can be illuminated in a color by means of the colored bulbs 96.

lThe word and syllables yare manually illuminated in sequence, and rotary switches are employed to set the number of letters in each syllable. A rotary switch is employed for each syllable to be used, and as shown in FIG. 1l, two rotary switches 97 and 98 are used corresponding to a maximum of two syllable words. I-Iowever, if it is desired to have the apparatus lfunction up to four or more syllables, four or more rotary switches would be employed, one for each syllable.

The rotary switch 98 consists of iive decks 97a, 975, 97C, 97d and 97e. The deck 97a includes a rotary wiper element 99 and four contacts 100, 101, 102 and 103 which Transverse walls y Lilian 73 are adapted to be contacted by the wiper element. In the oft position the wiper 99 will be out of contact with contacts 100-103.

Each of the other decks of switch 97 also includes four contacts and a pointer is tied in with the wiper 99 and is normally in engagement with the rst contact of each deck, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. l1.

When the system is set for a two-syllable word, sucl1` as BUSY, the rotary switch 97 is set for three letters and the wiper 99 extends over contacts 100, 101 and 102. Similarly, the pointers of the decks 97b-97e, which are normally in the iirst contact position, are moved with the wiper 99 so that they are in engagement with the fourth contact, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 1l.

The rotary switch 9S contains a single deck and includes a rotary wiper element 104 and a series 'of contacts 105, 106, 107 land 108.

As shown in the wiring diagram FIG. ll, the power lines 109 and 110 are connected to a suitable source of power and the line 110 is connected to ground. Line 109 is connected in series with one Contact of push-button switches 11, 112 and 113. The second contact of switch 111 is connected by line 114 to contacts 115 and 116 of double-pole, double-throwl relay switch 117 and also to relay winding 126. The arm 118 of relay switch 117 is connected by line 119 to the wiper element 99 of the rst deck 97a of the rotary switch 97.

The push-button switch 112 is connected by line 120 to contact 121 of relay switch 117 and the switch arm 122 is connected by line 123 to wiper element 104 of rotary switch 98. The push-button switch 113 is connected by line 124 to contact 125 of relay switch 117. When the button 111 is depressed, current will energize the relay coil 126 of relay switch 117 to move switch arms 118 and 122 into engagement with contacts 115 and 116, respectively, with the result that current will flow through line 119 to the wiper element 99 and through contacts 100, 101 and 102. The current passing through contact 100 will pass through line 127 and closed switch 128 to illuminate the light 93 behind the rst window in the box. Similarly, the current will iiow through contact 101, line 129 and closed switch 130 to illuminate the light behind the second window, while current will also ow through contact 102, line 131 and closed switch 132 to illuminate the light 93 behind the third window.

The switches 128, 130, 132 and 136 serve to control the white lightbulb 93 and the colored lightbulb 96 associated with each window.

When button 111 is depressed, current will also ow through line 123 to wiper 104 of rotary switch 98. As wiper 104 is in the iirst contact position, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 11, indicating the second syllable has one letter, current will ow through contact 105, Aand line 133 to contact 134 of deck 97b (the pointer of deck 97b being in the fourth contact position) and then through line 135 and closed switch 136 to lightbulb 93 associated with the fourth window.

Thus, when the button 111 is depressed, the letters of both syllables will be illuminated. The purpose of the decks 97b-97e is to compensate for the letters of the iirst syllable so that the second rotary switch 98 can be set for the number of letters in the second syllable regardless of the number of letters in the first syllable.

When button 111 is released yand button 113 is depressed current will flow through line 124, contact 125 and line 119 to wiper 99 and thereby light up the bulbs 93 in the rst three windows which correspond to the first syllable. By depressing button 112, current will ilow only to switch 9S and then through line 133 and 135 to light only the bulb 93 in the fourth window, which corresponds to the second syllable of the word.

With this circuitry, rthe entire word, including all syllables, can be illuminated by depressing the button 111, and each individual syllable can be illuminated by depress ing the buttons 112 and 113. This system is somewhat different than that described in connection with the rst embodiment in which the entire word and syllables are automatically illuminated in timed sequence. In this system, the word and the syllables are illuminated manually by the instructor and held or maintained illuminated for the desired period of time.

The present invention provides ia system for teaching spelling and pronunciation in which the word and the syllables are presented pictorially to the student so that the word, syllables and letters will be imprinted in' his memory.

While the above description is directed to the letters being on slides which are inserted into the casing, it is contemplated that the letters may instead be mounted on drums in which case the drums would be rotated to posithe slides can be replaced by other desired indicia.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are con-y templated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject mater which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

l. An educational apparatus for studing a word having a plurality of syllables, comprising a casing having a series of windows therein, a lighting member associated with each window, a plurality of indicia carrying members, means for removably mounting said members in the windows, a first series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows and each switch connected in series with the lighting member of the respective window, each switch of said iirst series being connected in parallel in a first electric circuit with the other switches of the series, first switch means connected in said electric circuit in series with said first series of switches, a second series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows, with each of said switches of the second series connected in series with the lighting member of the resepective window, each of said switches of the second series being` connected in parallel with the other switches of the second series in a second electric circuit, second switch means connected in the second electric circuit in series with the switches of the second series, a number of the switches of the first series corresponding in number and position to the letters in the first syllable of the word to be studied adapted to be manually closed and a number of switches of the second series corresponding in number and position to the letters in the second syllable being manually closed, and means for selectively closing the iirst switch means and the second switch means to thereby selectively illuminate the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said iirst series and the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said second series in a programmed sequence.

2. An educational apparatus for studing a word having a plurality of syllables, comprising a casing having a series of windows therein, a lighting member associated with each window, a plurality of indicia carrying members, means for removably mounting said members in the windows, a iirst series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows and each switch connected in series with the lighting member of the respective window, each switch of said iirst series being connected in parallel in a lirst electric circuit with the other switches of the series, a second series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows, with each of said switches of the second series connected in series with the lighting member of the respective window, eachY of said switches of the second series being connected in parallel with the other switches of the second series in a second electric circuit, a number of the switches of the first series corresponding in number and position to the letters in the iirst sylable of the word to be studied adapted to be manually closed and a number of switches of the second series corresponding in number and position Vto the letters in the second syllable being manually closed, and means for selectively connecting said first and second electric circuits to a source of power to thereby selectively illuminate the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said first series and the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said second series in a programmed sequence.

3. An educational apparatus for studying a word having a plurality of syllables, comprising a casing having a series of windows therein, a lighting member associated with each window, a plurality of indicia carrying members, means for removably mounting said members in the windows, a first series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows and each switch connected in series with the lighting member of the respective window, each switchbf said first series being connected in parallel in a first electric circuit with the other switches of the series, first switch means connected in said electric circuit in series with said first series of switches, a second series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows, with each of said switches of the second series connected in series with the lighting member of the respective window, each of said switches of the second series being connected in parallel with the other switches of the second series in a second electric circuit, second switch means connected in the second electric circuit in series with the switches of the second series, a number of the switches of the first series corresponding in number and position to the letters in the first syllable of the word to be studied adapted to be manually closed and a number of switches of the second series corresponding in number and position to the letters in the second syllable being manually closed, and drive means operably connected to said'first and second switch means for closing said first and second switch means in a programmed sequence to thereby selectively illuminate the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said first series and the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said second series.

4. An educational apparatus for studing a word having a plurality of syllables, comprising a casing having a series of windows therein, a lighting member associated with each window, a plurality of indicia carrying members, means for removably mounting said members in the windows, a first series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows and .each switch connected in series with the lighting member of the respective window, each switch of said first series being connected in parallel in a first electric circuit with the other switches of the series, first switch means connected in said electric circuit in series Vwith said first series of switches, a second series of switches corresponding in number to the number of windows, with each of said switches of the second series connected in series with the lighting memberof the respective window, each of said switches of the second series being connected in parallel with the other switches of the second series in a second electric circuit, second switch means connected in the second electric circuit in series with the switches of the second series, a number of the switches of the first series corresponding in number and position to theyletters inthe first syllable of the word to be studied adapted to be manually closed and a number of switches of the second series corresponding in number and position to the letters in the second syllable being manually closed, means for simultaneously closing said first and second switch means to thereby simultaneously illuminate the lighting members associated with the closed switches of both said first and second series, means responsive to the actuation of the last named means for opening said second switch means to illuminate only the lighting members associated with the closed switches of said first series, and means responsive to the actuation of the last named means for opening said first switch means and closing said second switch means to thereby illuminate onlythe lighting members associated with the closed switches of said second series.

5. The structure of claim 3, in which the drive means is cam operated.

References Cited in the file of this patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,878 Furdek Mar. l2, 1901 1,142,947 Ellis Q June 18, 1915 2,050,805 Pumar Aug. 1l, 1,936 2,193,478 Diebel Mar. 12, 1940 2,982,031 Bardelli nc May 3, 1961 s, D f

UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIN Patent No. 3,172,215 March 9,1965

Robeit P Rag l bove numbered p21-tar's ih thea hould read as ed that error appe Letters atent s 1t s hereby certf ent reqlirng correction and that the said corrected ,below Column 4, line 41, or "8" vread t'88 Coluninv 5, line 22, for "1l" read 111 Y signed and sealed this 24th day of'Augusrlg,

(SEAL) Attest: v

' EDWARD :I BRNNER of Patents' Commissioner 'ERNEST W. SWIDER Ain-,sting Officer 

1. AN EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS FOR STUDYING A WORD HAVING A PLURALITY OF SYLLABLES, COMPRISING A CASING HAVING A SERIES OF WINDOWS THEREIN, A LIGHTNING MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH WINDOW, A PLURALITY OF INDICIA CARRYING MEMBERS, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING SAID MEMBERS IN THE WINDOWS, A FIRST SERIES OF SWITCHES CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF WINDOWS AND EACH SWITCH CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH THE LIGHTING MEMBER OF THE RESPECTIVE WINDOW, EACH SWITCH OF SAID FIRST SERIES BEING CONNECTED IN PARALLEL IN A FIRST ELECTRIC CIRCUIT WITH THE OTHER SWITCHES OF THE SERIES, FIRST SWITCH MEANS CONNECTED IN SAID ELECTRIC CIRCUIT IN SERIES WITH SAID FIRST SERIES OF SWITCHES, A SECOND SERIES OF SWITCHES CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF WINDOWS, WITH EACH OF SAID SWITCHES OF THE SECOND SERIES CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH THE LIGHTNING MEMBER OF THE RESPECTIVE WINDOW, EACH OF SAID SWITCHES OF THE SECOND SERIES BEING CONNECTED IN PARALLEL WITH THE OTHER SWITCHES OF THE SECOND SERIES IN A SECOND ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, SECOND SWITCH MEANS CONNECTED IN THE SECOND ELECTRIC CIRCUIT IN SERIES WITH THE SWITCHES OF THE SECOND SERIES, A NUMBER OF THE SWITCHES OF THE FIRST SERIES CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND POSITION TO THE LETTERS IN THE FIRST SYLLABLE OF THE WORD TO BE STUDIED ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY CLOSED AND A NUMBER AND POSITION OF THE SECOND SERIES CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND POSITION TO THE LETTERS IN THE SECOND SYLLABLE BEING MANUALLY CLOSED, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CLOSING THE FIRST SWITCH MEANS AND THE SECOND SWITCH MEANS TO THEREBY SELECTIVELY ILLUMNATE THE LIGHTING MEMEBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLOSED SWITCHES OF SAID FIRST SERIES AND THE LIGHTING MEMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLOSED SWITCHES OF SAID SECOND SERIES IN A PROGRAMMED SEQUENCE. 